Apparatus for developing copies



S. E. J. HELLSTEN APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING COPIES Nov. 16, 1954 Filed Nov. 20 1951 United States Patent @fifice 2,694,353

Patented Nov. 16, 1954 2,694,353 disposed in the front wall of the casing near the entrance 5 opening of the upper chamber. Said aperture or slot ex- APPARATUS F R D V L N COPIES vii tends preferably over the entire lateral dimension of the casing, and the object of the same will appear from the Sven Enk Johannes Hensten Malmo Sweden foll wing description of the manner of action. Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,379 11611 a PY b f p e 111 a g tg pp ratus (not shown) it 18 to be introduced into the upper 5 Claims. (CI. 95-89) 1 chamber 3 for development. To allow said copy to be introduced the shutter 7' is drawn downwards by means of its handle 15. By this the shutter 7 uncovers the slot 14 This invention relates to an apparatus for developing 15 ginning of the opening movement of the shutter 7 the copies as exposed in light-copying or light-tracing apparablower 12 Wlll cause a suction to take place from the tus, more particularly a developing apparatus of the type external front side of the entrance opening 6 through the one above the other, the upper chamber serving as the monia passing through the entrance opening can reach the developing chamber and containing a bath of ammonia or 2 space surrounding the apparatus. The suction action ot er sultable developer, and the lower chamber receiving existing in riont of the entrance opening 6 18 increased the developed copies and being connected to a blower for according to the progressive opening of the shutter 7 as producing a suction through the same to clean the develthis shutter when moving downwards engages the upper oped copies from remaining developer so that the copies edge of the lower shutter 13 and thereby pushes th can be taken out in a clean state. shutter 13 downwards so that the take-out opening 10 is The invention has for its object to create an improved prograssively closed in dependence upon the opening apparatus of said type in which the developer is by exmovement of the upper shutter. When the copy has been pedient means prevented from passing out from the appaintroduced into the upper chamber the upper shutter 7 ratus into the surrounding space when the apparatus is is closed, this preferably being effected by pushing the opened for introducing or taking out the copies. shutter 13 upwards by means of the handle 16, the take- This and other objects will be obtained by the combinaout opening it) bein simultaneously uncovered When tion of features as appearing from the following descripthe copy has been developed the flap 9 1s swung downtion of a developing apparatus according to the invention, wards to open position, allow ng the copy to fall downyway of example illustrated in the accompanying draw- Wards into the lower chamber, and then the flap 9 1s ing, in whic immediately closed. In the lower chamber the copy 18 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, partly in a cleaned from remaining ammonia which disappears central vertical section; and Fig. 1A shows a modification. through the outlet opening 11, and then the ready copy ig 2 is a corresponding transversal section. is taken out through the opening 10. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates the cas- As will appear from Fig. 1A the slot 14 can be dising of the apparatus, made as a box or cabinet. By posed also in the intermediate horizontal wall 9', close means of the partition 2 the casing is divided in an upper to the entrance opening 6, said slot then being controlled chamber 3 and a lower chamber 4. The upper chamber by a horizontal extension from the cover 7 In this modi- 3 is the developing chamber proper, containing a bath 5 fication the two covers are independent of each other and of an agent generating a gaseous developer; for instance the cover 13 which could be mounted on a vertical pivot,

ammonia. being used only when the apparatus is not in use. In In the front wall of the casing the upper chamber has other respects the manner of action is the same as already an entrance opening 6 for introducing the exposed copies described.

which are to be developed in said chamber. Said opening The frictional engagement of the sliding covers with is normally closed by a cover 7, preferably made as a slidthe front wall can be secured for instance by fiat springs ing shutter, held by friction against the casing or by other (not illustrated) pressing the covers against the wall.

suitable means( not illustrated) in its upper position e invention s not restricted to the embodiment as When an exposed copy is to be introduced into the upper illustrated and described but can be realized in many chamber, the cover 7 is drawn downwards by means of the other ways without departing from the spirit of the invenhandle 15, and then the opening 6 is again closed. A fi L What I claim is:

ike may e provided in the upper chamber for prevent- 5a apparatus for developing Copies as Exposed, mg the copies from a direct Conta t w th th bath comprising in combination, walls forming a casing having e cop es developed 111 the upper h be are suptwo chambers one above the other, the upper chamber plied to the lower chamber through an opening 8 provided being provided with an entrance opening for introducing in the partition 2. Said opening is normally closed by a pi s t be de eloped by the action of a developer conwhen desired aid flap an be tu ned dow d b an stituting a partition between said two chambers and being external handle on the shaft of the flap to the open posiprovided with an Opening for passing copies as developed tion indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby allowing from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, said lower a developed copy passing downwards into the lower chamh m being Provided With a takfiout Opening the her, sliding upon said flap. The lower chamber has a copies one of the walls of the lower chamber having an wall and associated with a blower 12 for producing a through the lower chamber in the direction from the takesuction through the lower chamber. The take-out openout opening to clean remaining developer from the develing 10 is provided with a cover 13, preferably made as a oped copies, a displaceable cover for the entrance opening sliding shutter with a handle 16 and being normally held which cover when in one position closes both the entrance lustrated is supposed to be frictional engagement with the seals said additional aperture to provide communication the blower and flowing out through the outlet opening 11 An apparatus for developing copies as exposed, comwhich communicates with the atmosphere through a hose prising, in combination, walls forming a casing, one of said walls dividing said casing into to chambers, one above entrance opening is disposed above the take-out opening the other, the upper chamber being provided with an in one and the same vertical wall of the casing, and the entrance opening for introducing copies to be developed two covers are sliding shutters, the upper one of said by the action of a developer contained within said upper shutters, when moved in the direction of uncovering the chamber, said wall being provided with an opening for I entrance opening and the additional aperture also operatpassing copies as developed from the upper chamber to ing the lower one of said two shutters to closing position. the lower chamber, said lower chamber being provided 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a rockwith a take-out opening for the copies and with at least able flap is provided for controlling the copy-passing openone additional aperture in a casing wall constituting the ing in the partition and for guiding the copies passing front of the lower chamber and located near the entrance 10 downwards to the lower chamber when in open position. opening of the upper chamber, suction means for produc- 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ing a draft through the lower chamber in a direction from additional aperture is disposed in the intermediate partithe take-out opening to clean the developed copies from tion wall, close to the entrance opening.

remaining developer, a cover for the entrance opening for closing 1the); same when inthnormal posiltion but being dis- 15 References Cited in the file of this patent placeab e or uncovering e same, sai cover also c osing said additional aperture when in normal position and un- FOREIGN PATENTS sealing said additional aperture when displaced and provid- Number Country Date ing communication between it and the upper chamber, a 440,528 Germany Feb. 5. 1927 cover for the take-out opening for closing the same in de- 20 567,243 Germany Dec. 30, 1932 pendence upon the displacement of the first-mentioned 688,756 Germany Mar. 2, 1940 cover from its closed position to its open position. 704,142 Germany Mar. 24, 1941 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the 

